As Valentine’s day is approaching I thought about listing the most popular names that Italians use between lovers (and in same cases between close friends). The listing is accompained with the literal English translation, however all of the followings might sound in English like darling, sweetheart, honey and the likes.

We use modal verbs to show if we believe something is a necessity, a possibility or volition (if you must do something, if we can do something or if we want to do something.

We also use modal verbs to do things like asking permission, making requests and offers and so forth.

The Italian modal verbs precede the infinitive of another verb and indicate a mode

voglio andare al supermercato (modal verb + infinitve + object)

devo comprare la cioccolata (modal verb + infinitve + object)

non posso aspettare (modal verb + infinitve )

Dovere + infinitive: to must, to have to, I need to

Devo andare in palestra – I must (need, have to) go to the gym

Dovere + object: to owe

Ti devo 5 euro per la piazza – I own you 5 euros for the pizza

Potere:to ask for permission or being allowed or not to do something

Posso uscire un momento? – Can I leave for a second?

I bambini non posso guardare la tv di sera tardi – Children are not allowed to watch TV late

Potere does not express the ability to do something, like English. In Italian, is the verb SAPERE that does it:

so cantare – I can sing

sai cucinare? – Can you cook?

sapete parlare russo? – Can you guys speak Russian?

Volere:

Voglio mangiare giapponese – I want to eat Japanese

Voglio il shushi e la tempura – I want sushi and tempura

Modal verb and compound tenses:

Conjugating modal verbs in the passato prossimo (and other compound tenses) needs a special construction.

Since each modal verbs is followed by an infinitive verb (Posso entrare? Voglio mangiare!), you need to choose the correct auxiliary between essere and avere depending on the infinitive verb that is followed the modal verbs:

–Sono dovuta uscire – I had to go out

Uscire is a verb of motion that in compound tenses take ESSERE as a helping verb (or auxiliary)

–Ho dovuto preparare la cena – I had to prepare the dinner

Preparare is transive verb taking AVERE as helping verb,

–non ho potuto preparare la cena – I could not prepare the dinner

– non sono potuta andare a pranzo – I could not go to the lunch

Note that if the auxiliary preceding the modal verb is ESSERE the modal verbs dovere, potere and volere agree with the gender and number of the subject.

I often happened to be asked by my students what is the actual difference between the verbs ESSERE and STARE, as they both can be translated into one single verb in many other languages (French, English, German, Polish…), that is to say TO BE.

Let’s start from clarifying that the Italian translation of ‘TO BE’ is truly ESSERE and that STARE is used in the place of ESSERE just in some idiomatic expressions.

In many expressions stareand essere are interchangeable. There is a subtle difference between them though. ESSERE would rather state a quality or being statement while STARE would rather indicate a a voluntariness in the action described.

GLI is used instead of I before plural nouns starting with a vowel or s + consonant, ps, gn,x, y, x.

2- The definite articles and family names. Family names in the singular do not need the definite articles. However, they do in the plural.

Example: Mia sorella Martina – Le mie sorelle Martina e Lavinia.

There are a few exceptions to the rule though. The family names in the singular take the definite article with/when:

– The pronoun loro -> il loro nonno

– the noun is accompanied by an adjective -> la mia cara mamma

– a modified noun -> la mia sorellina, il mio figliolo

3- The preposition of place A and IN and the verb ANDARE. This is one of the more confusing grammar aspects of the Italian language, however, there are a few tricks to help you opt for the correct preposition. E.g. when it comes to names of cities you need to use the proposition A, whilst it comes to countries you need to use the preposition IN. Islands have its own rule: big islands take the preposition IN (vado in Sicilia) whilst smaller island would take the proposition A (vado a Cuba, vado a Porto Rico).

4- Choosing the correct auxiliary when it comes to using a compound tense.

10. Chiudersi a riccio.Literally: shutting yourself like a hedgehog. Figurative: to clam up, to become silent suddenly, usually because you are embarrassed or nervous, or do not want to talk about a particular subject.

How many different ways can you say “you’re welcome in Italian? At least, 7 of them!

Prego is the easiest and most popular way to say you’re welcome in Italian. Prego means also ‘please’ in different contexts and is the first person singular of the present tense of the verb pregare (to pray).

Grazie per il tuo aiuto! Prego!

Di niente is as much used as prego andit means it was nothing.

Grazie per il tuo aiuto! Di niente!

Figurati (you informal) and Si figuri (you formal) stand for don’t mention it! They can be used in different contexts as well, meaning ‘they told me that.. or imagine that…’.

Grazie per il tuo aiuto! Figurati!

Non c’è di che means ‘don’t say/mention it! and gives away the idea that you did what you are thanked for with pleasure.

Grazie per il tuo aiuto! Non c’è di che!

Non c’è problema, means ‘no problem’.

Grazie per il tuo aiuto! Non c’è problema!

E di che? In other words, what you are thankful for? It was my pleasure to help you!

Grazie per il tuo aiuto! E di che?

Ci mancherebbe altro! means ‘of course, obviously’. You can use it when you happen to do a favour to somebody and he or she is very thankful for that. In short, ‘ci mancherebbe altro’ means something like ‘I did it with pleasure, don’t mention it!

A cappuccino is an Italian hot coffee drink, prepared with espresso and hot milk. It can often be served with cocoa or cinnamon toppings. The name comes from the Capuchin friars, referring to the colour of their habits. Italians usually take a cappuccino at a bar and only for breakfast, while abroad people tend to have a cappuccino any time of the day.